JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Tuesday January 2, 2007 [C(2/365) LW(2/365)]

Julian Calendar Winter (????????????)
Okinawan Winter (????)
Ryukyu Island Winter (????)

January 2007 Total:
C-cloudy (2/365)
LW-light winds (2/365)

This Year’s (June 3, 2006 – June 2, 2007) Total:
S-sunny (36/365) C-cloudy (94/365) PC-partly cloudy (82/365)
D-drizzle (6/365) R-rainy(13/365) SR-scattered rain showers (14/365)
W-windy (65/365) LW-light winds (118/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (87/365) SH-slightly humid (58/365)

This is a traditional New Year’ s wreath, a shimenawa. The symbolism of the wreath is very similar to that of a Christmas wreath. Each New Year’s Eve, caretakers of homes and businesses hang wreaths on the outside of entrances in the spirit of bringing happiness and prosperity.

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This tea cup set was a present. The unusual aspect about the set is that on the inside of the cup is a hidden image of a face of a traditional clad woman.

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Thursday December 28, 2006 [C(17/365) W(12/365)]

Julian Calendar Winter (????????????)
Okinawan Winter (????)
Ryukyu Island Winter (????)

December 2006 Total:
C-cloudy (17/365) PC-partly cloudy (11/365)
R-rainy (5/365)
W-windy (12/365) LW-light winds (15/365)
SH-slightly humid (2/365)

This Year’s (June 3, 2006 – June 2, 2007) Total:
S-sunny (36/365) C-cloudy (89/365) PC-partly cloudy (82/365)
D-drizzle (6/365) R-rainy(13/365) SR-scattered rain showers (14/365)
W-windy (64/365) LW-light winds (114/365) VW-very windy (3/365)
H-humid (87/365) SH-slightly humid (58/365)

This local flower seems to burst out at the world….

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A brief reminder, the annual Bonenkai Bash is being held at 7th heaven tonight. So, if you want a chance to check out some seasoned local rock talent…why not give it a go.

One of the flowers in the local neighborhood….

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This is a pic captured from some video footage taken of the goodies the boys received for the holiday. The morning started off with a vanilla-flavored maringue treat…

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View brief video of the boys’ main present.

After 32 years of marriage, it’s not always easy coming up with a new idea for a gift. With all the construction of new household residences in our neighborhood over the past fifteen years, we have lost most of our original ocean and night sky views. (The ocean view due to two and three story homes right outside our door. And the night sky view due to all the new street and home lights.) But with new technology, that’s not a problem. My love of nature and this challenge of changes brought out the inner nerd in hubby for this year’s present….

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This is a captured pic of some video footage I took of the Goya overpass in Koza (Okinawa City) Japan prior to deconstruction, which was completed last night. The overpass and I have a history in that it was one of the first places in which I had an encounter with the locals when I arrived on island in 1973.

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View brief video